Ironing machine



May 13, 1941. J. A. CASTRICONE IRONING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1937 V 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 13, 1941. J. A. CASTRICONE IRONING MACHINE Filed July 17. 1937 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I n lll ll ll l ll l wv rlllllllllllllllllllllllflllz III May 1941' J. A. CASTRICONE 2,241,539

IRONING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1937 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 y 13, 1941- J. A. CASTRICONE 2,241,539

IRONING MACHINE Filed July 17. 1937 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 mwsm V 2a) j 5 a a amen May 13, 1941. J. A. CASTRICONE IRONING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1937 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 y 1941. J. A. CASTRICONE 2,241,539

IRONING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1937 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 May 13, 1941.

J. A. CASTRICONE IRONING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1937 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 May 13, 1941. J. A. CASTRICONE IRONING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1937 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Z lafgz'eaz a May 13, 1941. J. A. CASTRICONE mourns MACH-INE Filed July 17, 1937 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 T R\\ up? D d f I Bm N? f mww Patented May 13, 1941 IRONING MACHINE John A. Castricone, Peoria, 11]., assignor to Alterfer Brothers Company, Peoria,

of Illinois 111., a corporation Application July 17, 1937 Serial No. 154,275

9 Claims.

This invention pertains to ironing machines for both domestic and commercial use and is 11. lustrated as applied to an ironing machine having a transversely curved non-rotating bed commonly known as a flat-bed ironer, but as will become apparent hereinafter, certain features of the invention may be utilized in ironing machines of the rotary or roll bed type and in other types.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide an ironing machine inwhich one of the ironing members may be given a rocking or back and forth ironing movement of a character very similar to that movement utilized by a person in operating a flat or sad iron whereby, for instance, a piece of cloth or material may be pressed in place, that is, without passing it through the ironer or between the ironing member several times as in the case of the ordinary roll-type ironer mechanism. In the embodiment illustrated, an ironing bed having a surface of transversely and convexly arcuate form and conforming generally to the shape of an iron or ironing shoe, is arranged to be rocked back and forth on a horizontal axis to effect the motion specified and for the purposes mentioned.

Another object is to provide an arrangement whereby an ironing machine of the roll bed type may be converted to a flat bed type and vice versa in a simple and inexpensive manner.

Still another important object is to provide a mechanism by which a rocking or back-andforth motion may be transmitted from a source of motor power through the bed support to the ironing bed.

Many other objects, the advantages and use of the invention will be or should become apparent after reading the following description and claims and after viewing the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, with a portion broken away, of an ironing machine embodying a preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the right hand end of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view, partially in section, of the top portion of the ironing machine illustrated in Fig. 1, but on a larger scale;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the left hand end of the ironing bed and ironing shoe shown in Fig. l, but on a scale larger than the scale of Fig. 3;

Figs. 5 and 6 are, respectively, fragmentary sectional views taken along the lines V-V and VIVI of Fig. 4; the view corresponding likewise to the section lines VV and VIVI, respectively, in Figs. 6 and 5;

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of the right hand end of the ironing bed and shoe shown in Fig. 1, showing power transmitting means for operation of the bed and shoe;

Fig. 8 is a large scale plan view of the bed and shoe operating mechanism taken substantially along the line VIIIVIII of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a section taken substantially along the line IX-IX of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a detail plan view of a part of the mechanism for controlling the operation of the ironing shoe and the ironing bed;

Fig. 11 is a detail view taken substantially along the line XI-XI of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the machine showing a part of the mechanism for controlling the operation of the ironing shoe;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of an emergency release mechanism for the ironing shoe taken along section line XIII-X1111 of Fig. 14; and

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line XIV-XIV of Fig. 13.

The machine in general This application is a continuation in part of applicant's Patent No. 2,115,941, issued May 3, 1938, and the ironing machine illustrated includes various features described and claimed therein. In general the ironing machine comprises an ironing bed 2 supported by standard or frame 3 from a cabinet 4, an ironing shoe 5 supported upon a standard 6 from the cabinet 4, power mechanism including a motor I and transmission in a casing or housing generally indicated at 8 (Figs. 1 and 2), and suitable control members 9 andl I. The motor I and the transmission and control mechanism are all suitably housed within the cabinet 4. While there are control switches for the motor itself for the heating elements which may be assumed to be carried in the ironing shoe 5, neither such switches nor the elements have been illustrated since they are well known in the art.

The ironing bed The ironing bed 2 may be constructed per se in rection at right angles to said are, that is, may

be said to be of the shape of a portion of a cylinder.

The bed is designed to be rocked back and forth, that is, toward and from an observer viewing Fig. 1, and to such end is mounted upon a pair of arms I5 formed upon a hub I6 which is mounted for rocking movements upon a station ary sleeve I1 which is secured in and supported by a moss I8 formed integral with the standard 3. An arm I9, in the outer end of which a fulcrum pin 2| is secured, has a hub portion 22 surrounding the sleeve l1 and i adjustably secured thereto by a set screw 23, while a hardened washer 24 serves as a bearing member between The rocker member 21 is held upon the pivot pin 26 by a washer 33 in turn held in place by cotter key or the like 34. Plate 32 is held to a rock shaft 35 by a stud screw 36, but is prevented from rotation with respect to the shaft 35 by lugs 31 formed on a bearing member 38 pinned by a pin 39 to the shaft 35, the plate 32 being provided with apertures 4| for the reception of the lugs 31. A guard and housing member 42 may surround the sleeve I1 between the hub 22 of arm I9 and the standard 3.

The rock shaft 35 finds bearing within the sleeve l1 through the bearing member 38 at the one end and through a bearing member 43 at the other end but projects out of the sleeve I1 beyond the bearing member 43 where it carries a sprocket 44 rigidly secured thereto for driving engagement by a chain 45 whereby the shaft may be rocked or rotated as will hereinafter appear. It will be noted from the mechanism so far described that if the shaft 35 be rocked through a reasonable angle of say 30 (15 clock-wise and 15 counter-clockwise) from the position represented in Fig. 4, a

corresponding rocking movement will be imparted to the plate 32 and to the rock member 21, which being in effect fulcrumed upon the pin 2|, will cause the arms l5 and the ironing bed to rock through a corresponding angle on the sleeve I1. However, the angle through which the bed 2 rocks willbe a lesser angle than the angle through which the shaft 35 has been moved. In other words, the rocking mechanism described provides, in effect, a reduction gear between the rock shaft 35 and the ironing bed.

Transmission mechanism for applying power to the bed rock shaft The arrangement is such that the shaft 35 may be rocked for the purpose of rocking a fiat bed, such as that illustrated, or rotated or rocked for the purpose of rotating or rocking a roll type bed, such as that illustrated and described in the above noted co-pending application. The substitution of a roll type of bed for the flat bed shown may be accomplished merely by removing the fiat ironing bed together with the arms I5 and I9 and the plate 32 and sub stituting an ironing roll, uch for instance as that illustrated and described in my aforesaid copending application. Consequently, the mechanism herein disclosed for driving the shaft 35 may be operated to rock the shaft 35 for a flat bed ironer or for rotating the shaft or for rocking it when a roll ironing bed is used. Thi operating mechanism will now be described.

Mounted in suitable bearing in the standard 3 is a short shaft 46 on which a pair of sprockets 41 and 48 are secured, the sprocket 41 driving the chain 45 and the sprocket 48 being driven by a chain 49 in turn driven by a sprocket 5| fixed to a shaft 52 as with a set screw 53. The shaft 52 is supported at one end in a bushing 54 carried by a bracket 55 carried by the casing 8 and at its other end is reduced and carries a bushing 56 upon which a pinion 51 is mounted and which in turn is surrounded at one end by a bushing 58 secured in a boss 59 in the casing or housing 8. The reduced end of the shaft 52 is adapted to 1'0- tate freely under certain circumstances with respect to the pinion 51, and the pinion 51 is adapted to rotate within the bushing 58.

Intermediate the bushing 54 and the pinion 51 an enlarged portion 6| on the shaft 52 is splined to a circumferentially slotted clutch collar 62 which may be shifted in one direction longitudinally of the shaft 52 to engage projection 63 carried thereon with projections 64 carried by the pinion 51 or in the other direction to engage projections 65 with pin 66 carried by a pinion 61 freely mounted upon the shaft 52 between the enlarged portion 6| and a thrust collar 68 pinned to the shaft 52. It will be apparent that movement of the clutch collar 62 in one direction will connect the pinion 51 with the shaft 52 and in the opposite. direction will engage the pinion 61 with the shaft 52. While I have illustrated and described a mechanism for shifting the clutch collar 62, in my said co-pending application, any other mechanism well known in the art for shifting the same may be utilized, and for such reason no means is particularly disclosed herein. It may be assumed, for the purpose of illustration of the invention, that the clutch collar 62 i connecting pinion 51 with the shaft 52 at all times and is only to be connected with the pinion 61 when the shaft 35 is to be rotated and not rocked.

Rocking movement is imparted to the shaft 52 by a sector gear 69 formed upon one end of a rocker 1| pivotally mounted upon a, stub shaft 12 between a bearing washer 13 and a pinion 14 also freely mounted for rotation upon shaft 12 and retained in place thereon by bearing washer 15 in turn held in place by a cotter pin or the like 16, the shaft 12 being firmly secured in a boss 11 formed in the casing or housing 8. The other arm 18 of the rocker 1| carries a pivot pin 19 upon which an arm 8|, forming a part of an eccentric strap member 82, is pivotally secured, the strap being engaged about an eccentric or cam 83 formed integral with a pinion 84 rotatably mounted upon a shaft 85 secured in a boss 86 in the casing or housing 8. Hardened thrust washers 81 and 88 serve to take up any end thrustof the eccentric 83 and pinion 84. The pinion 84 is at all times meshed with a gear 89, and the gear 89 also meshes with a pinion 9| carried on the stub shaft 12 and which in turn is meshed at all times with the pinion 61. It will thus be'apparent that if the gear 89 be driven in either direction, rocking motion may be imparted to the shaft 52 through the gear 84, eccentric strap 82, rocker 1|, sector gear 69, pinion 51 and the clutch collar 62, or rotary movement may be imparted to the shaft 52 through the engagement of gear 89 with pinion 9|, pinion 61 and clutch collar 62.

The gear 89 is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 92, and integrally formed with the gear is a toothed clutch member 93 between which and the gear is a slot 94. within which the forked arms of a clutch shifter 95 are engaged and adapted to ride; The gear 89 is made wide enough so that it may be shifted'longitudinally on the shaft 92 to engage the clutch teeth of the clutch member 93 with cooperative teeth 96 formed one. worm gear 91, the while remaining in constant engagement with gears 84 and 9|. The worm gear 91 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 92 and is driven by a worm 98 fixed to a shaft 99 connected with the electric motor or other power device indicated at 1. When the teeth of clutch member 93 are engaged with teeth 96 when the motor is operating, the gear 89 is driven and shaft 52 will be driven through the chains of gears heretofore described, either continuously in one direction or back and forth through a predetermined number of degrees.

Power applying mechanism for ironing bed shafi and ironing shoe rock shaft Rotatably mounted on the shaft 92 is an element IOI which is arranged to be rotated between the position in which it is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 10, and a positionof 180 removed therefrom. The inner end of element IN i provided with two transverse slots I02 and I03 (see Fig. 11) which are substantially at right angles to one another. Within the slot I02 and pivotally mounted upon a reduced portion I04 of the member IN is a member I05 having oppositely directed fingers I06 and carrying a pin I01. Normally, member I05 is urged in a counterclockwise direction (viewing Fig. 11) about the portion I04 by a tension spring I08 fixed between a post I09 secured to member IOI and a pin III attached to one of the fingers I06. Within the slot I03 and longitudinally slidable therein is a plate I I2 which is slotted as at I I3 to receive the pin I01, which has an elliptical slot II4 through which the shaft 92, and the portion I04 freely pass, and to which a plate II5 having a projection or tooth H6 is rigidly secured at one end. Cap screws or screws and washers II 1 plus the post I09 and washer II8, secured to the member IOI serve to retain the plate II2 within the slot I03 for sliding movements therein. The projection or tooth I I6 is adapted to be received in any one of a series of depressions or notche II9 formed in a disk I2I rigidly secured to the worm gear 91 for rotation therewith.

Normally in the position shown in Fig. 11 where it serves to engage one of the fingers I06, is a dog I 22 formed on a lever I23 pivoted upon a pivot pin I24. This dog I22 may be released from a finger I06 when the. lever I23 is moved about its pivot in the direction of the arrow shown thereon in Fig. 11 whereupon spring I08 will swing the member I05 about its pivot to the opposite side of a slot I02 from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 11, thereby causing the pin I01 to move the slide plate II 2 to the left, thereby engaging the tooth H6 in one of the recesses H9 in the disk I2I, and element IOI will proceed to rotate with worm gear 91 if this gear is being rotated.

The lever I23 is arranged to be operated through certain connections including a pull rod I25, a crank arm I26 secured on one end of a pivot pin I21 rotatably mounted in a boss I28 formed on the housing 8, a crank arm I29 seknee of the machine operator.

cured on the opposite end of pivot pin I21, a. pull rod I30, and lever control member 9 pivoted within the cabinet 4 on a pivot I3I and pivotally connected to the pullrod I30 on a pivot I32. In order to limit the movement of cranks I26 and I29 and thus the extent of movement of lever I23, the crank I29 is continued beyond the pivot I21 where it is forked to provide projections I33 both of which are arranged to engage a pin I34 secured to the frame of the machine. The lever 9 is arranged to be operated by the It is intended that the lever 9 shall be pushed or nudged by the operator only momentarily and only long enough to release the dog I22 from behind the tooth I06 whereupon the control will be immediately released so that the dog I22 is free to engage behind a succeeding finger I06 to which position the dog is returned immediately by the action of a tension spring I35 which may be secured between the pull rod I25 and a portion of the bracket 55. Thus, when the element I0 I has rotated 180, the succeeding finger I06 will engage the dog, and, through the medium of the pin I01 engaged with the walls of the slot I05, will move the tooth II6 out of engagement with the disc I2I and the element IOI will come to rest.

The outer end of element IOI is formed with an eccentric I36 about which an eccentric strap I31 is secured. At the high point of the eccentric and inwardly therefrom, a cam surface I38 is formed, the purpose of which will shortly appear. The eccentric strap I 31 may be formed integrally with a housing I39 which contains a spring I4 I, one end of which is arranged to abut against tongues I42 struck from the housing I39. A rivet I43 may serve to hold the housing sides in position as Well as to retain the end of the spring MI in its position. The opposite end of spring I4I bears against a pin I44 rigidly secured through and to the arms I45 of a forked crank member I46 fixedly secured to a rock shaft I41 rotatably mounted in bearing I48 carried by a boss I 49 in the housing 8. The rock shaft I41 projects outwardly of the housing 8 where it is pinned by a pin I5I in a collar I52 integral with a crank arm I53. A hardened plate I54 also surrounds this end of the rock shaft I41 and is secured to the crank arm I53 by a bolt I55. The rock shaft I41 is extended even beyond the plate I54 where it enters a guide bushing member I 56 securely pinned by a pin I51 to a shaft I58. The guide bushing member I56 is provided with an integral projecting portion I59 within which a plunger I6I is reciprocally mounted and normally urged toward the left (viewing Fig. 13) by a spring I62 which abuts at one end against a shoulder formed on the plunger I6I and a shoulder provided by a gland nut I63 screwed into the projecting portion I59 but through which the plunger I6I is adapted to be slid. The hardened plate I54 is provided with an aperture adapted snugly but slidably to receive the tapered end of plunger I6I and when the plunger is entered into this aperture the shaft I58 is rigidly connected with the rock shaft I41 to be rocked thereby.

It will be apparent that when the operator releases the dog I22 from one of the fingers I06 and the element has rotated through the element will, in one position, come to rest as shown in Fig. 8, where the spring I4I will have been compressed and will have urged the pin I44 toward the extreme right. The forked crank member I66 and the rock shaft I41 will have been rocked to the position shown in Figs. '1

IN will again rotate 180 at which time the tension upon the spring I will be released and the forked crank member I45 and the rock shaft I41 will be urged in a'clockwise direction (viewing Fig. '7) and at this time the cam surface I36 will have engaged a projecting arm I64 secured between a flange I65 and a sleeve I66 carried by a plunger I61 slidably held in a boss I66 on housing 6 and urged outwardly of the boss by a spring I69. Held between a nut "I the sleeve I66 is the forked clutch control member 95, so when the cam surface I36 strikes the arm I64 it forces the plunger I61 into the recess of the boss I66, compresses spring I69 and, simultaneously, through the forked clutch control member 95, disengages the clutch elements 93 and 96.

The main ironing shoe and its operating mechanism The standard 6 supports an ironing shoe through a support member I12 which is pivoted to the standard on a horizontal pivot I13. The ironing shoe 5 carries a pair of lugs I14 which are disposed on either side of an arm I15 and through which and arm I15, a horizontal pivot I 16 extends. Springs I11 permit limited and resilient oscillation of the shoe about the pivot I16. The arm I15 has a bearing boss I16 disposed over a pivot I19 which is secured in a boss I8I on the member I12 as by a pin I62. Thus, the shoe 5 may rock about the pivot I16 and may be moved longitudinally of the bed 2 to a certain extent in each direction about the pivot I19.

The ironing shoe support I12 is arranged to be rocked about the pivot I13 to carry the ironing shoe toward or away from the ironing bed 2, by a curved operating rod I63 which at its upper end is pivotally secured as at I64 to the support l12 and at its lower end is pivotally connected as at I65 to a crank I66 secured on the end of rock shaft I56. At this end the rock shaft passes through a lug I61 formed on the standard 6 and is held in position by flxedcollar I66. A tension spring I69 connected between the pivot I13 and a post I9I normally tends to pull the rod I63 upwardly and to swing the ironing shoe 5 away from the bed 2. It will be apparent that when the forked arms I45 are moved in a counter-clockwise direction to rock the rockshaft I41 in the same direction, the curved rod I63 will be pulled down and will move the ironing shoe 5 against the bed 2.

The plunger I6I normally maintains the rock shafts I41 and I56 in cooperative association, but in case the power should fail while the iron isiilelng pressed against the bed, mechanism is progided whereby the operator may substantially instantaneously disconnect the rock shaft I41 from rock shaft I56 so that the ironing shoe may be thrown back away from the bed manually. The disconnecting mechanism includes a pull rod I92 pivotally connected as at I93 with the plunger I6I at one end and pivotally connected by a bolt I94 at its other end with an arm I95 carried ,by a crank I96 fixed to a shaft I91 which has bearing in suitable bearings provided in the cabinet housing and which at the front of the cabinet is connected with the control handle I I. the plunger I6I may be released from the hardened plate I 54 whereupon the ironing shoe 5 may be swung about its pivot I13 away from the ironing bed.

Operation of machine Assuming that the switch controlling the motor (switch not shown) has been closed to start the motor 1, the worm 96 will drive the worm gear 91 continuously. As soon as the operator is ready to iron, a nudge of the knee against the control lever 9 will move the dog I22 out of the path of one of the fingers I 66 which will permit the spring I66 to shift the member I65 so as to move the dog II6 into one of the notches II9 thereby to rotate the member I6I through 160 or until the dog I22 intercepts the next finger I06. The cam I36 will move I6Il to the position illustratedin Fig. 10, at which time the cause the clutch members 93 and 96 to engage with one another and if the clutch collar 62 is engaged'with the pinion 51 (through operation of a manual control not shown) the shaft 52 will be rocked and through the mechanism previously described will rock the bed back and forth toward and from the operator. Inasmuch as the ironing shoe is mounted for movement about its horizontal pivot I16, it will partake to a certain extent of the rocking movements of the bed, but owing to the disposition of its pivot I 16 with respect to the pivot mounting of the bed adifferential or relative sliding movement will take place between the bed and ironing shoe of a character closely simulating the motion of a hand iron over the bed. A certain amount of oscillatory movement longitudinal of the bed may be imparted to the iron by reason of its mounting upon the pivot I19.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention and preferred types of mechanism in that embodiment, it will be apparent that many modifications may be effected and that various other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit of the invention and the cope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an ironing machine, a support, a sleeve rigidly secured by one of its ends to said support, the other end of said sleeve being unsupported, a shaft rotatably supported in said sleeve, an arm secured to and projecting transversely of the axis of aid sleeve adjacent to said other end, an ironing bed supporting member mounted on said sleeve between said arm and the adjacent end of said sleeve, a rocker arm pivotally secured intermediate its ends to said bed supporting member at a place spaced from said sleeve and upon an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said shaft, means on said arm providing a fixed pivot for one end of said rocker arm, said end of said rocker arm being pivoted upon said fixed pivot, a crank arm secured to said shaft and By movement of the handle II 'substantially continuous differential operatively associated with the other end of said rocker arm, and means for rocking said shaft.

2. In an ironing machine the combination of a non-rotating and non-cylindrical arcuate bed adapted to support material to be pressed, an arcuate ironing shoe, supports for said arcuate bed and for said ironing shoe, shifting means for said supports whereby said bed and shoe may be relatively moved between an operating position wherein their surfaces are urged into pressing engagement with each other, and an inoperative position wherein said bed and shoe are moved into spaced relationship with each other; poweroperated pressure engaging means including a motor and reduction gear train whereby said bed and shoe may be successively engaged and disengaged; power-operated means for imparting sliding movement between said bed and shoe while said bed and shoe are maintained in aforementioned pressure engagement; and control means for simultaneously operating said pressure engaging means and said difierential sliding movement means.

3. In an ironing machine the combination of a non-rotating and non-cylindrical arcuate bed adapted to support material to be pressed, an arcuate ironing shoe, supports for said arcuate bed and for said ironing shoe, shifting means for said supports whereby said bed and shoe may be relatively moved between an operating position wherein their surfaces are urged into pressing engagement with each other, and an inoperative position wherein said bed and shoe are moved into paced relationship with each other; poweroperated pressure engaging means including a motor and reduction gear train whereby said bed and shoe may be successively engaged and disengaged; and power-operated means for imparting substantially continuous difierential sliding movement between said bed and shoe while said bed and shoe are maintained in aforementioned pressure engagement.

4. In an ironing machine, the combination of a pair of cooperating ironing elements comprising a non-rotating and non-cylindrical bed adapted to support material to be pressed, and a cooperating ironing shoe; supports for said ironing elements, shifting means for said supports whereby said bed and shoe may be relatively moved between an operating position wherein their surfaces are urged into pressing engagement with each other and an inoperative position wherein said bed and shoe are moved into spaced relationship with each other; power-operated pressure engaging means including a motor and reduction gear train whereby said bed and shoe may be caused to engage or disengage; pivotal mounting means for one of said ironing elements adapted to permit limited rocking movement of said element, power-operated oscillating means including an eccentric for imparting aid rocking movement to said ironing element; pivotal mounting means for the other of said ironing elements adapted to permit limited rocking movement of said element whereby said element may be free to follow the angular positions assumed by the driven element to maintain their cooperating surfaces in constant pressure engagement substantially throughout their area.

5. In an ironing machine, the combination of a pair of cooperating ironing elements comprising a non-rotating and non-cylindrical bed adapted to support material to be pressed, and a cooperating ironing shoe; supports for said ironing elements, shifting means for said supports whereby said bed and shoe may be relatively moved between an operating position wherein their surfaces are urged into pressing engagement with each other and an inoperative position wherein said bed and shoe are moved into spaced relationship with each other; poweroperated pressure engaging means including a motor and reduction gear train whereby said bed and shoe may be caused to engage or disengage; pivotal mounting means for one of said ironing elements adapted to permit limited rocking movement of said element; power-operated oscillating means including an eccentric for imparting said rocking movement to said ironing element; pivotal mounting means for the other of said ironing elements, said pivotal mountings of said bed and shoe being on different centers and being so arranged as to anchor the ironing bed and shoe in such relative positions that the aforementioned rocking movement will be effective to maintain constant differential sliding movement between said bed and shoe.

6. In an ironing machine, the combination of a pair of cooperating ironing elements comprising a non-rotating and non-cylindrical arcuate bed adapted to support material 'to be pressed, and an arcuate ironing shoe; supports for said ironing elements, shifting means for said supports whereby said bed and shoe may be relatively moved between an operating position wherein their surfaces are urged into pressing engagement with each other and an inoperative position wherein said bed and shoe are moved into spaced relationship with each other; engaging means whereby said bed andshoe may be caused to engage or disengage; pivotal mounting means for one of said ironing elements adapted to permit limited rocking movement of said element about a center not concentric with the arcuate surface of the said ironing element; power-operated oscillating means for imparting said rocking movement to said ironing element; pivotal mounting means for the other of said ironing elements adapted to permit limited rocking movement of said element about a center not concentric with the ironing surface of said ironing element whereby said element may be free to follow the angular positions assumed by the driven element to maintain their cooperating arcuate surfaces in constant pressure engagement substantially throughout their area.

7. In an ironing machine, the combination of a pair of cooperating ironing elements comprising a non-rotating and non-cylindrical arcuate bed adapted to support material to be pressed, and an arcuate ironing shoe; supports for said ironing elements, shifting means for said supports whereby said bed and shoe may be relatively moved between an operating position wherein their surfaces are urged into pressing engagement with each other and an inoperative position wherein said bed and shoe are moved into spaced relationship witheach other; engaging means whereby said bed and shoe may be caused to engage or disengage; pivotal mounting means for one of said ironing elements adapted to permit limited rocking movement of said element about a center not concentric with the arcuate surface of the said ironing element; power operated oscillating means for imparting said rocking movement to said ironing element;-

pivotal mounting means for the other of said ironing elements, said pivotal mountings of said bed and shoe being on different centers and beironing elements, shifting means for said sup-.

ports whereby said bed and shoe may be relatively moved between an operating position wherein their surfaces are urged into pressing engagement with each other and an inoperative position wherein said bed and shoe are moved into spaced relationship with each other; poweroperated pressure engaging means including a motor and reduction gear train whereby said bed and shoe may be caused to engage or disengage; pivotal mounting means for said ironing bed adapted to permit limited rocking movement of said bed about a center not concentric with the arcuate surface of the said bed; poweroperated oscillating means including an eccentrio for imparting said rocking movement to said ironing bed; pivotal mounting means for said ironing shoe adapted to permit limited rocking movement of said shoe about a center not concentric with the ironing surface of said shoe whereby saidshoe may be free to follow the angular positions assumed by. the ironing bed to ironing elements, shifting means for said supports whereby said bed and shoe may be relatively moved between an operating positionwherein their surfaces are urged into pressing engagement with each other and an inoperative position wherein said bed and shoe are moved into spaced relationship with each other; power-operated pressure engaging means including a motor and reduction gear train whereby said bed and shoe may be caused to engage or disengage; pivotal mounting means ior said ironing bed adapted to permit limited rocking movement of said bed about a center not concentric with the arcuate surface of the said bed; power-operated oscillating means including an eccentric for imparting said rocking movement to said ironing bed; pivotal mounting means for said ironing elements, said pivotal mountings of said bed and shoe being on difierent centers and being so arranged as to anchor the ironing bed and shoe in such relative positions that the aforementioned rocking movement will be effective to maintain constant differential sliding movement between said bed and shoe.

. JOHN A. CASTRICONE. 

